Sociology Degree in Cary, NC — Salary & ROI 2026
Sociology degree analysis for Cary, NC. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$48K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$65K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
10.1 yrs
in Cary
Cost of Living
108.5
index (100 = avg)
Sociology in Cary, NC Overview
Cary, North Carolina (pop. 174,721) has 7 colleges offering Sociology programs. The local cost of living index of 108.5 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $1,335/month. Although national enrollment in Sociology has been declining, graduates with skills in Research Methods and Data Analysis remain competitive in the job market. The adjusted starting salary in Cary is approximately $47,740.
Category
Social Sciences
Local Colleges
7
Public Tuition
$9,200/yr
Private Tuition
$34,000/yr
Room & Board
$15,364/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,896/yr
Unemployment
4.1%
Graduation Rate
53%
Sociology Salary in Cary (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Cary's cost of living index of 108.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Sociology salary: $44,000 starting, $60,000 mid-career, $75,000 senior level.Cary adjustment factor: 1.08x based on the local cost of living index.
Sociology ROI Calculator for Cary
Estimate your return on investment for a Sociology degree using local Cary tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $9,200 | Private avg: $34,000
Cary avg aid: $8,896/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$98,256
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$9,765
vs HS diploma in Cary
ROI Payback Period
10.1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Cary
$172,994
Lifetime earnings premium ($271,250) minus total education cost ($98,256)
Student Loan Payoff for Sociology in Cary
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Cary for Sociology
Cary State University
public
$8,460/yr
$33,840 total
University of Cary
public
$9,070/yr
$36,280 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Cary Community College
$5,719/yr
Top Employers for Sociology in Cary
Cary offers opportunities in Government agencies, Non-profits, Research institutes for Sociology graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Cary Hiring Sectors for Social Sciences
Government agencies
Non-profits
Research institutes
Social services
Consulting
Common Sociology Job Titles
Sociology in Nearby North Carolina Cities
Charlotte, NC
$39K starting · COL 89
39 colleges
Raleigh, NC
$37K starting · COL 83
21 colleges
Greensboro, NC
$40K starting · COL 91
17 colleges
Durham, NC
$48K starting · COL 109
25 colleges
Winston-Salem, NC
$47K starting · COL 106
26 colleges
Fayetteville, NC
$40K starting · COL 90
15 colleges
Wilmington, NC
$42K starting · COL 95
5 colleges
High Point, NC
$37K starting · COL 84.5
5 colleges
Other Social Sciences Majors in Cary
International Relations
$54K starting · 5 yr ROI
Political Science
$52K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Urban Planning
$54K starting · 5 yr ROI
Geography
$54K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Forensic Science
$54K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Sustainability Studies
$54K starting · 5.8 yr ROI
Psychology
$48K starting · 6 yr ROI
Criminal Justice
$54K starting · 5 yr ROI
Sociology Degree in Cary — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Sociology ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Cary.